How To Get A Pennsylvania Car Accident Report
The Pennsylvania State Police service covers crashes PSP investigated. Confirm the responding agency and the scope of the record before placing an order.
Sources Checked October 4, 2026 General Information
Confirm That Pennsylvania State Police Investigated
Check the incident card or exchange sheet for the investigating agency and CAD or case number. A crash on a Pennsylvania road does not by itself establish that PSP prepared the report. A borough, township or city police department may be the relevant custodian. Ask the responding agency which office provides its reports if the paperwork is unclear.
The PSP report-request service expressly concerns incidents investigated by Pennsylvania State Police. Use it when that description matches your collision. If a local agency investigated, start with that agency’s records office rather than paying for a PSP search and hoping it covers every department. Record the custodian’s name with the report number in your file.
Check Eligibility Before Ordering
PSP’s service page identifies people involved in the crash, their attorneys or insurers, and involved government agencies as eligible requesters. The application form asks the requester to identify the reason for requesting the report and the person or client involved. Supply accurate information about your role. Knowing someone who was in a crash is not the same as having authority to request their records.
If you are helping a family member, ask the records unit what authorization or request procedure applies. Do not sign as the involved person or select a representative category that does not describe you. Keep any requested authorization with your application copy so later questions about access can be answered consistently.
Use The Online Or Mail Route For The Basic Report
The official PSP service page links the online request system and the mail application. It lists a $22 fee and says reports are available 15 days after the crash. Treat that published availability statement as a records instruction, not a reason to delay notifying an insurer or checking a legal deadline.
For a mail request, use the current instructions for payment and the Crash Reports Unit address. The service page specifies a money order or certified check payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Keep the signed application, payment record and delivery receipt. For an online request, retain any confirmation and correspondence rather than relying on an open browser tab to show that the request was made.
Gather The Identifiers Used On The Application
The PSP form asks for the crash date and time, CAD or case number, county, municipality, route and location. It also provides space for involved people. Use the officer’s paperwork when possible. A township name can differ from the postal city in an address, so record both when they help explain where the event occurred.
If you lack a case number, ask the investigating station how to identify the report. Explain uncertain details rather than inserting a guessed number. On a highway, direction, exit or milepost information can help distinguish the location. Keep a brief note of any corrected identifier so a later request does not repeat an earlier mistake.
Do Not Assume The Purchase Includes Photographs
The PSP application states that the reporting-form copy excludes appended documents and photographs. A report order therefore should not be described as obtaining the entire investigative file. If photographs, recordings or supplemental material matter, list them separately and ask about their availability and the correct request procedure.
Explain the item and timeframe as precisely as possible. A photograph taken by an officer, a nearby business’s camera recording and a witness’s phone video have different custodians. Ask about preservation promptly if material may be overwritten or otherwise unavailable later. A request for the basic report does not show that another custodian received a preservation request.
Follow Up On An Unavailable Or Incomplete Record
Before submitting a duplicate application, compare the details on your request with the incident information. Ask whether the record is unavailable, still being completed or held elsewhere. Keep the response, including the date and staff contact where provided. If a professional needs the record for an approaching task, tell them exactly what has been requested and what remains pending.
When a report arrives, review its page count and any references to supplements. Ask about a missing page or unclear notation. A report may refer to material outside the purchased copy, so the reference alone does not prove an attachment was accidentally omitted. Clarify the scope before concluding that the response is incomplete.
Review Errors Through The Preparing Agency
Save the original file without annotations. In a working copy, mark the exact entry that appears incorrect and identify supporting information. A wrong plate number can be addressed differently from disagreement with a witness account or investigative conclusion. Ask the agency about its procedure for corrections or supplemental information.
If a revised version is issued, retain the earlier copy and the correspondence showing why it changed. Keep your own photos, chronology and witness contacts in separately labeled folders. That organization lets an insurer or lawyer see which statements came from the official report and which are your additional evidence, without treating either as a complete determination of fault.
Official Sources
These agency and legislative sources support the state-specific information above. Check the current agency instructions before making a request.
- Request a Copy of a Vehicle Crash ReportPennsylvania State Police
- Application to Obtain Copy of Police Crash ReportPennsylvania State Police
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